Multiple-plate clamping



Nov. 22, 1927.

Filed'nec, 17. 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 22, 1927.

J. J. HALLIWELL MULTIPLE PLATE CLAMPING w -,I m UF...

Patented Nov. 22,1927.

UNITEDA STATES 1,650,2ee PATENT OFFICE.v

JOI-IN J'. HALLIWELL, OF 'IlUCKAI-IOE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO R.r HOE & CO., INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

MULTIPLE-PLATE CLAMPING.

Application filed December l1'?, 1926. Serial No.. 155,434.

This invention relates to certa-in improvements in plate'clamps.

In printing certain classes of products, as, for instance, products having small pages, a large number of plates are used widthwise of the cylinder, as, for instance, it may be desirable to use eight plates across the cylinder. TNhere such -a number'of plates are used, the margin spaces between the plates are narrow and it is desirable that the plates may be positioned on the cylinder with the correct margin spacesbetween each two adjacent plates. j

It is a special object of the invention to produce a plate clamp particularly useful for clamping up a large number of plates so that the plate holding clips may lbe simul taneously operated to release the plates and so that when the plates are lclamped the correct margin spaces will loe provided between two adjacent plates withouttlie necessity of individual plate adjustment, so that time lis savedin plating and unplating a cylinder with these plates.

A further object of the invention is to produce a plate clamp of simple construction and o-f few parts by which this quick plating of the cylinderv may he effected.

l/Viththese and other objects not specilicallyreferred to in view, the invention consists in certain novel'parts, arrangements and combinations which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

In these drawings,- j

ligure l is an end view of a plate cylinder, partly 'broken away and partly sectional, showing the improved clamps;

Figure 2 is a AVplan View of the construction shown in Fig. l; Y

`Figure 3 is a horizontal broken sectional view showing th-e clamps as clamping four plateswide on one end of the cylinder, the clamps being shown as open;

Figure 4 is a similar viewfshowing the clamps in loclred po-sition, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of part of the construction shown in Fig. 4, certain of the plates having been removed.

Referringnow to the drawings, the invention has vloeen illustrated as used for clamping a plurality of relatively narrow platesfon the cylinder, four such'plates being shown on one half of the cylinder. It will beunderstood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to this number of plates, but may be used with varying num-y bers, as conditions may require.

In the construction shown, there is pro, vided a plate cylinder l'capacitated to carry four plates wide onveach end of the cylinder, only one end of the cylinder being shown,`it being understood that the construction is duplicated on the other end. Theplates shown are marked 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. lThis cylinder is provided with a fixed margin bar 2 against which the inside of the two inside plates 6, 7 abut. Y

Plate clamps or clips are employed for locking up the plates 3, 4, 5 and 6, and, in accordance with the invention, means are provided whereby a plurality of these clamps maybe simultaneously operated to clamp andV release the plates, and, in the best constructions, these means are such as to move the clamps in eithetr direction a predetermined distance so that when the plates are in' clamped position the margin lspaces between the plates will lbe of the same desir-ed width. While these means may vary somewhat, in the particular construction shown there are provided four clamps 8, 9, l() and l1, three of theseclamps, as9, 1-0 and ll being simultaneously movable to clamp and release the plates, and the fourth clamp, as 26, being independently operated to clamp and release the outside plate.

VIn the best constructions, furthermore, means are provided whereby the clamping members for clamping they outside ledges of the three'inside plates 4, 5 and 6 maybe independently adjusted inthe event that the simultaneous operating means do not effect quite the desired clamping effect.

Inl the clamping mechanismV selected to illustrate the invention, the clamps 9, 10 and 11 clampthe inside edges of the three inside plates, and these clampsvare provided with independent operating clamps or clips 12, 13 and 14, which are provided with bevelled portions for i' engagingk the bevelled outsidey edges of the inside plates. ,'Ihese clamps are mounte'd'and operated yso that the clamps 9, l0 and l1 will be simultaneously moved either to the right or left to simultaneously clamp and release the plate, and preferably this movement will be one which may be predetermined sc that the clamps will be returned to the same position and give the proper margin space. Y

lVhile this may be etl'ected in variou ways, in the particular construction illustrated, the cylinder is circumferentially grooved, as indicated at 15 in Fig. 2, in which grooves are iitted rings 16 which are formed with rectangular recesses, indicated at 17 in Fig. 1, and the clamp blocks 8, 9, 10 and 11, before referred to, are mounted in these recesses. The cylinder is also channelled longitudinally, as indicated at 15, and through this channel extends a screw actuator rod 19. The blocks 9, 10 and 11 are operated by the screw rod 19, and this rot is formed with a collar 19', see Fig. il, which engages a thrust plate 20, the end of which is squared, as indicated at 20,Vto lit a wrench. Blocks 17 are secured in the channel 15 by means of screws 16, these blocks being grooved on the under side, as indicated in F ig. 1, to clear the screw rod 19, and serve to close the openings required for the insertion of the clamps 8, 9, 10 and 11 in the cylinder.

This screw actuator rod is provided at intervals along its length with threaded portions which pass through and engage threaded apertures of the clamp blocks 9, 10 and 11, but has a free sliding movement in the block 8. rllhe threads of the screw actuator rod are different for each of the clamps; thus the part of the rod which engages the clamp block 11 has a single thread,

indicated at 21, that which'v engages the clamp 10 has a double thread, indicated at 22, and that which engages the blocl; 9 has a triple thread, indicated at 23. W ith this construction, it will be seen that the clamp bloclr 10 will move twice the distance of the bloclr 11, and the block 9 will move three times the distance of block 11, that is, each elocli will move the required distance to unclamp the plates engaged thereby, so that all the plates will ber simultaneously freed. If desired, the screw rod, instead of being made in one piece, may be made in sections joined by a tongue and groove 24 pinned together by pins 25. l

It will thus be seen that by loosening the clamp 26 all the rest of the clamps can be simultaneously moved to release the plates by the operation of the screwactuator rod 19. In clamps embodyingthe invention in its best form, means will be provided for providing anindividual adjustment of the plate engaging portions of the clamps relatively to the clamp blocks which are simultaneously moved by the screw actuator rod. While this may be done in various ways, as shown, they clamps 12, llrand 14 and the clamp 26 are mounted to have a sliding movement relatively to lthe clamp blocks 8, 9, 'l0 and 11, before referred to. As shown,

see Fig. 1, these latter clamp blocks are provided with a rectangular recess, indicated at against movement, which means, vof course,

may be varied, but, as shown, comprise a resilient locking strip 30 suitably secured to the main clamp blocks by screws 31, or in any other suitable way. 'ilie smaller clamps 12, 13, 14 have a movement relatively to the large clamp blocks, but move with the clamp blocks 9, 10, 11 by reason of the screws engaging plates 32, secured vto the ends of the blocks. y

l/Vhile the invention has been shown and described in its preferred form, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the specilic construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the invention as delined'in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. ln'a plate clamp, the combination of a plate support, a plurality of plates onthe support widthwise thereof, a movable clamp for each plate, and means for simultaneousiy moving a plurality of the clamps dierent distances for simultaneously locking and releasing a plurality of the plates.

2. ln a plate clamp, the combination of a p'late support, a plurality of plates on the support widthwise thereof, means for simultaneously moving a. pluralityof the clamps dill'erent distances for simultaneously locking and releasing a plurality of the plates, and means for effecting an independent adjustment of each of the clamps. y

3. ln a plate c'lamp, the combination of plate support, a. plurality of plates on the support widthwise thereof, a movableclamp for each plate, and a clamping rod engaging a plurality of the clamps for moving them diti'erent distances simultaneously for simultaneously locking and releasing a plurality of the plates. Y

4. In a plate clamp, the combination of a plate support, a plurality of plates-'on the support widthwise thereof, Va plurality of clamp blocks having plate engaging clips, means common tothe blocks forV simultaneously moving a plurality of them,'and clamps moving with the blocks but independently movable relatively thereto Vfor individual adjustment. f

5. In a plate clamp, the combination of a plate support, a plurality of plates on the support widthwise thereof, a plurality of clamp blocks having plate engaging clips. a

screw rod engaging the clamps and having threads of different pitch for simultaneously moving a plurality of the clamp blocks, and clamps moving with the blocks but independently movable relatively thereto for individual adjustment.

6. In a plate clamp, the combination of a plate support, a plurality of plates on the support widthwise thereof, a plurality of clamp blocks having plate engaging clips a screw rod engaging the clampsand having threads of different pitch for simultaneously moving a plurality of the yclamp blocks, clamps moving with the blocks but independently movable relatively thereto for individual adjustment, and means for looking the latter clamps against movement relatively to the blocks.

7. In a plate clamp, the combination of a plate support, a plurality of plates on the support widthwise thereof, a plurality of clamp blocks havingplate engaging clips, means common to the blocks for simultaneously movinga plurality of them, clamps moving with the blocks but independently movable relatively thereto for individual adjustmcnt, and means for locking the latter clamps to the blocks.

8. In a plate clamp, the combination ot a plate cylinder, circumferential grooves in the cylinder, rings located in the grooves provided with recesses, clamps inthe recesses and arranged lengthwise of the cylinder, and a screw actuator rod engaging a plurality of the clamps -or simultaneously operating 1 them. i f

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

J OHN J. HALLIWELL. 

